Frequently Asked Questions

Municipal clerks may not leave off the name of the ward when having ballots printed. Candidates may elect not to use their first or middle initials on nomination papers or on ballots. Designations such as “Sr.,” “Jr.,” or “III” may be used on nomination papers or on ballots. (Issued to Harold C. Dobberpuhl, April 21, 1976)

Dual nomination: When a candidate wins a partisan primary for an office for which he has filed nomination papers and a declaration of acceptance, and also wins, at the same primary, the party's nomination for another office by write-in votes, the candidate may not choose between the nominations, but must appear on the general election ballot as a candidate for that office for which nomination papers and a declaration of acceptance were filed. §§8.03 (1), 8.35 (4)(b), Stats. (Issued to Fred W. Shaffer, August 17, 1978)

The timely filing of a declaration of acceptance, as required under §8.15 (4)(b), Stats., is a condition precedent to the right of a nominee to have his or her name appear on the official ballot. (Issued to Frank J. Bucaida, March 1, 1979)

A recognized political party which does not run a candidate for president or whose candidate does not receive one percent of the state presidential vote at the presidential general election does not lose its ballot status. Ballot status of recognized political parties is determined by the ability of the party candidates to establish a minimum level of support by obtaining at least one percent of the vote for any statewide office at a gubernatorial general election. (Issued to Dennis Boyer, Esq., March 9, 1988)